Forecast: More showers, then sunny and dry

Forecast issued Monday, July 15, 2019 covering July 17-24, 2019

Once again, the weather models did a pretty good job with the forecast. The heat and humidity moved in last weekend as expected and we did see several rounds of thunderstorms move through on Sunday and Monday of last week. This forecast period will begin fairly unsettled as a broad area of low pressure tracks

canada flag

Editor’s Take: Canada at a crossroads

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Canada remains either a leader or laggard in the realm of support for its agriculture sector, depending on how one approaches the problem. A free market idealist who favours letting the invisible hand sort it all out might think less support to producers is a

A young foal is a lot like a child. They’re both a wonderful thing and an expensive long-term commitment that requires a lot of work to succeed.

Considerations before breeding a horse

Horse Health: This is not a project that should be simply taken on at an impulse — it requires planning, patience and commitment

Foals are adorable and the idea of raising a foal can be tempting – very tempting. The reasons why owners breed a horse is often a combination of emotional gratification, performance expectations and economic gain. Yet none of these outcomes are “for certain” and so the eventual outcome of the foal as it becomes an

An established relationship with a veterinarian is key to future use of antimicrobial products.

Handle antibiotics with care

Horse Health: How the ‘new’ veterinary oversight affects horse ownership

First of all, the idea of veterinary oversight regarding the use of antibiotics in animals is nothing new. However, as of December 1, 2018 what animal owners will notice as “new” regarding the purchase of all antimicrobials for animal health is the need for the involvement with a veterinarian to ensure prudent use of antibiotics.

One type of mosquito, the Culex tarsal, spreads WNV to horses and humans and this species usually appears later in the summer season.

West Nile virus revisits horses in the Prairies

Horse Health: There can be cycles of this disease, which are subject to a complex interplay

Since the first horse was detected with West Nile virus (WNV) in Canada in 2002 the prevalence of the disease has cycled annually through peaks and troughs. The initial peak prevalence occurred in 2003 following its introduction. In the following years much fewer cases were reported until 2007 when the incidence of the disease spiked


Processed feeds are especially prone to short shelf life, but there’s no requirement for formal expiry dates.

Expiry dates matter to horses too

Keep an eye on the freshness of everything from medications to feed

Modern horse keeping carries a responsibility of housekeeping that pertains to periodically reviewing the expiry dates of products routinely used in the care of the horse. Most horse owners will immediately consider the expiry dates of drugs and medications, however, there are other items that also carry expiry dates that may be even more relevant

horses

Be on guard for neurotropic equine herpesvirus-1 (nEHV-1)

Symptoms range from none through mild respiratory infection to abortion and paralysis


A diagnosis of neurotropic equine herpesvirus (nEHV-1) in a horse displaying neurological symptoms has recently been confirmed in Saskatchewan. Prior to diagnosis this horse had travelled to a number of rodeos in Alberta and thus there is the potential for exposure of numerous horses. As a result, horse owners have been alerted and are advised

Saskatchewan farming prices – in 2016 dollars per acre.

Risk and volatility not necessarily same

Hedging Your Bets: Current canola and farmland prices are examples of markets at risk of a sudden change

When thinking about risk, there can be a lot of different interpretations. Risk does not have to mean volatility but the two tend to work in conjunction. One way to define risk is ‘the consequence of not meeting your goals.’ One of my favourite authors on the topic of market risk and practical trading ideas


Forecast: A potential heat wave, again

Last week’s forecast began with a much-stronger-than-anticipated area of low pressure that brought some welcome rains to a good portion of southern and central Manitoba. The rest of the forecast played out fairly well, but once again, the forecast heat didn’t really materialize as the western ridge of high pressure is continually knocked down every

Editorial: New opportunities

Editorial: New opportunities

Agriculture is often viewed, especially by outsiders, as a staid and conservative place where things are done by tradition. To be fair, it’s often true. After all, you’re practising a craft that’s 12,000 years old and the foundation of human civilization. Without farming we’d all be hunting and gathering our next meal with no time